I'm looking into more instrumental prog bands such as Liquid Tension Experiment and Gordian Knot, and I found the band Canvas Solaris. What album of theirs should I start out with, if you recommend this band at all in the first place?

canvas solaris : start with "sublimation".later ones they change drummers i think.I reviewed them on another site .they were good.if you like then then you should also check out "Behold the arctopus" and dizrhthmia and maybe the "Z's".

Symphony X - The Damnation Game, Paradise Lost and their third album whose name I keep forgetting. Pretty good album though

Pagan's Mind - Celestial Entrance

Lalu - Orinic Metal

Lemur Voice - Divided

the albums you pointed out are pretty sweet too. But these are the ones I enjoy most.

I've checked out Pagan's Mind (Enigmatic Calling and God's Equation) and I just found them to be really boring compared to most other bands. I dunno there's just something missing.

I also heard Sun Caged and didn't like them all that much either. Is Lemur Voice a lot better?

I'll definitely check out this Lalu.

For fans of instrumental stuff check out Planet X. Derek Sherinian plays Keyboards. Pretty crazy stuff but very keyboard based. I couldn't remember if they had already been recommended.

Thanks for the Planet X reccomendation. And Lemur Voice is a LOT better than Sun Caged. I also found Sun Caged's to be pretty bland (Artemesia is shit but their s/t album is quite good), but both Lemur Voice albums pwn.

In terms of Prog-metal, I'm definitely a fan of Symphony X's Paradise Lost, but the sheer cheese factor of the earlier albums turns me off faster than tubgirl. Likewise, I definitely enjoy Dream Theater... when James LaBrie shuts up (Liquid Tension Experiment, I know).

I'm also a big fan of Winds and Rush circa Moving Pictures.

You can see where this is going: I'd like some technically-endowed melodic progressive metal without a crappy vocalist. Instrumental is fine, but preferable would be a vocalist who's actually got a good voice.

And please, hold the cheese.

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843182 wrote:

biohazard the band is not is when you want to add it to tell you that there is

On a cold winter morning, in a time before the light
In flames of death's eternal reign we ride towards the fight
When the darkness has fallen down and the times are tough alright
The sound of evil laughter falls around the world tonight

Fighting hard, fighting on for the steel, through the wastelands evermore
The scattered souls will feel the hell, bodies wasted on the shores

On the blackest plains in hell's domain we watch them as they go
In fire, pain and once again we know

SO now we fly ever free, we're free before the thunderstorm
On towards the wilderness our quest carries on
Far beyond the sundown, far beyond the moonlight
Deep inside our hearts and all our souls!

So far away, we wait for the day
For the lives all so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on

As the red day is dawning and the lightning cracks the sky
We'll raise our hands to the heavens above, with resentment in their eyes
Running back from the mid morning light with a burning in my heart
We're banished from a time in a fallen land to a life beyond the stars

In your darkest dreams see to believe our destiny this time
And endlessly we'll all be free tonight

And on the wings of a dream, so far beyond reality
All alone in desperation, now the time has come
Lost inside you'll never find, lost within my own mind
Day after day this misery must go on

So far away, we wait for the day
For the lives all so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on

Now here we stand with their blood on our hands
We fought so hard now can we understand?
I'll break the seal of this curse if I possibly can
For freedom of every man!

So far away, we wait for the day
For the lives all so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on!

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843182 wrote:

biohazard the band is not is when you want to add it to tell you that there is

What about some progressive bands with more of an influence from death metal? I don't mean technical death metal (necrophagist, etc) I mean prog with some really brutal vocals and blast beating. Actually I don't think I know any prog bands like that...
Closest thing I could think of is something maybe like Between the Buried and Me but with less of the -coreness and faggotry.

edit;

Ribos wrote:

Okay, here's one for you guys:

In terms of Prog-metal, I'm definitely a fan of Symphony X's Paradise Lost, but the sheer cheese factor of the earlier albums turns me off faster than tubgirl. Likewise, I definitely enjoy Dream Theater... when James LaBrie shuts up (Liquid Tension Experiment, I know).

I'm also a big fan of Winds and Rush circa Moving Pictures.

You can see where this is going: I'd like some technically-endowed melodic progressive metal without a crappy vocalist. Instrumental is fine, but preferable would be a vocalist who's actually got a good voice.

And please, hold the cheese.

Maybe try out Zero Hour's later stuff. Chris Salinas is a really good vocalist. But I'm not too sure. Its hard to filter out what is cheese to some and what is cheese to others. I for one stay the hell away from power metal these days because of the cheese factor. Most bands already mentioned have good vocalists and good musicianship...

rexxz wrote:

What's "cheese"?

If something is cheesy it generally means it is of poor quality, poor taste or lame. (hence Ribos' example of DragonForce)

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Khomaniac wrote:

I guess since you're not a Mastodon, you automatically have the best taste in music.

If something is cheesy it generally means it is of poor quality, poor taste or lame. (hence Ribos' example of DragonForce)

I know that definition of it, but other people seem to have a different one. And the problem with using "cheesy" as a descriptor is that you'll not get any conclusive consensus agreement on what is cheesy and what is not, so I am wondering why even use it to begin with. It's like sayin "don' give me shitty bands"... well... ok.

you like tuff like necrophagist? high speed technical death metal? im sure someone mentioned Genghish tron right? or something like that ? how abouts Noism?

Are you talking to me? Because I said not technical death metal just progressive metal with more emphasis on death metal aspects (vocals, drums). Genghish tron didn't come up with anything on the archives (are you sure thats the band name?) and Noism was some breakcore band from Japan?

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Khomaniac wrote:

I guess since you're not a Mastodon, you automatically have the best taste in music.

I'm getting into the more random instrumental stuff in prog. What I'm looking for is completely instrumental music that is unpredictable and also is conceptual--as in every song embodies a "theme," rather than a whole album based on one concept. A good example of what I mean is Spastic Ink's Ink Complete. For instance, "See, and It's Sharp!" consists solely of C and C#, and "A Morning With Squeakie" is a musical representation of a squirrel escaping predators while finding food.

EDIT: To the previous poster, it's actually Genghis Tron. And they're not metal.

Are you talking to me? Because I said not technical death metal just progressive metal with more emphasis on death metal aspects (vocals, drums).

Concept Insomnia is my favorite band in this sort of style. I also suggest Mercenary's "11 Dreams" (later albums are more commercial and power-metally, earlier are more melodic death metally) and anything by Into Eternity. "Dead or Dreaming" and "Buried in Oblivion" are typically regarded as their best works. Kalisia might work for you if you want predominantly death growls; "Cybion" is leaked if you look around a bit, and the "Skies" demo is pretty great. I've heard Scar Symmetry's latest album, "Holographic Universe", is pretty proggy, but I haven't heard it yet.

Heard Into Eternity. Can't stand them. So much potential but they fail miserably. Scar Symmetry were decent, wouldn't say prog... but nothing special. Maybe I should give them another spin but yeah pretty boring stuff.

MercyfulSatyr wrote:

I'm getting into the more random instrumental stuff in prog. What I'm looking for is completely instrumental music that is unpredictable and also is conceptual--as in every song embodies a "theme," rather than a whole album based on one concept. A good example of what I mean is Spastic Ink's Ink Complete. For instance, "See, and It's Sharp!" consists solely of C and C#, and "A Morning With Squeakie" is a musical representation of a squirrel escaping predators while finding food.

Check out the rest of Ron Jarzombek's projects if you haven't already because most of his songs are based on a theme. Blotted Science is unbelievable if you like more heavier stuff. Solitarily Speaking Of Theoretical Confinement (his solo cd) is really cool and just what your looking for I believe (although all the songs are just short pieces... but really really cool).

I really don't know anyone else like Ron.

MercyfulSatyr wrote:

EDIT: To the previous poster, it's actually Genghis Tron. And they're not metal.

Then why did he bother posting? Haha.

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Khomaniac wrote:

I guess since you're not a Mastodon, you automatically have the best taste in music.

If something is cheesy it generally means it is of poor quality, poor taste or lame. (hence Ribos' example of DragonForce)

I know that definition of it, but other people seem to have a different one. And the problem with using "cheesy" as a descriptor is that you'll not get any conclusive consensus agreement on what is cheesy and what is not, so I am wondering why even use it to begin with. It's like sayin "don' give me shitty bands"... well... ok.

Through my minimal pique of interest in the subject, I have concluded that "cheesy" in the non-derogatory sense of the word would indicate positivism in either the music or the lyrics, usually both. Major key guitar work and 70's synths playing major key scales, etc... would constitute as cheesy, as would singing about dragon's and fairies (or, from the more jaded metalhead, anything not involving fear/sadness/hate/anguish/loss.)

In it's derogatory sense, it would imply one or both of the following:
a) the music is aurally (or lyrically) of low quality.
b) the music fits into the above "positive" description, but is seen as a blight on metal, as it doesn't align itself into what the metalhead would believe is good metal ("Keep it dark, keep it HEAVY").

Cheesy also seems to be synonymous with the word "gay," which can likewise be used merely as description of its attributes (such as calling Aquaria "gay" but solely in description of the musical values of the music, and not as a qualitative trait) or in the derogatory sense.

Determining which one the author intends it to be can usually be seen by the tone of the question/statement.

Musically, Melancholy Beast was indeed more interesting than Bone Carver, I'll agree with that. Lance King's vocals just... ick (he's my #1 most hated vocalist, so I'm probably anti-biased). He just wails and wails for no apparent reason. Ugh. He was at his worst on Defyance's "Transitional Forms" though.

I didn't bother with "Immortal" though. I don't mind Barlow, but I can't say I'm a rabid fanboy.

With prog from 2008, Shadrane and Tomorrow's Eve both seemed good. I've played 'em both once on mp3 and they seemed good, but I want to wait til I get the CDs before going nuts and playing both of them to death (I have them both on order and they should arrive next week, hopefully).

Musically, Melancholy Beast was indeed more interesting than Bone Carver, I'll agree with that. Lance King's vocals just... ick (he's my #1 most hated vocalist, so I'm probably anti-biased). He just wails and wails for no apparent reason. Ugh. He was at his worst on Defyance's "Transitional Forms" though.

I didn't bother with "Immortal" though. I don't mind Barlow, but I can't say I'm a rabid fanboy.

With prog from 2008, Shadrane and Tomorrow's Eve both seemed good. I've played 'em both once on mp3 and they seemed good, but I want to wait til I get the CDs before going nuts and playing both of them to death (I have them both on order and they should arrive next week, hopefully).

I'm not a "Fanboy". I've never even heard more than one Iced Earth song, I just thought Matt's Voice was better than Lance's.